Wire fence.



vJ. H. DOWNS.

WIRE FENCE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1911.

1,023,509 Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

his Antovmg COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPN c0.. \VAMIINGTON. u c.

' trio JOHN HENRY DOWNS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WIRE FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912. Serial No. 638,458.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY Downs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to be applied to wire fences, including either plain or barbed wire, or wire netting and the like.

It aims to provide an improved means and method of anchoring the Wire to the posts of the fence in a simple, inexpensive, and expeditious manner, which at the same time will insure the wire being held securely both against sagging and against lateral displacement.

The accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, will now be referred to for a detailed description of the invention.

In the said drawing, Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view, representing a portion of a wire-fence embodying the present improvement; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of one of the fence-posts, in perspective illustrating the method of applying the invention to one side of the post; Fig. 3 is a detail view of an improved fastening forming part of the invention; and Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the method of applying the invention to an adjoining side of the same post.

Similar reference-characters denote corresponding parts in the several views.

As represented in the drawing the fence may consist of a net-work of horizontal and vertical wires, respectively marked 10 and 11, and any suitable number of posts therefor, the latter including both line and corner posts which the numerals 13 and 14 respectively designate. The several posts are conveniently made of angle iron as shown, and may be propped up, together with the netting-thereon, by means of braces 15 and 16. The fence thus made is of known construction and not claimed herein. I

In carrying out the invention the line posts 18 are set up so that one side or leg thereof will face the netting squarely in each instance, that is to say, the surface of each post on one side will be parallel to the wires that compose the netting, while the adjoining side or leg 13 of the post (which vided in each face for each horizontal wire 7 2f tlfie netting, for a purpose hereinafter set ort The fastening detailed at Fig. 3, and indicated by the numeral 18, consists of a short length of wire having a hook 19 at one end. This fastening is applied to the line posts after a manner exemplified in Fig. 2. In applying it, the straight portion (18) of the fastening is first passed (preferably from the outside of the post inward as the last-named view suggests) through the hole 17 where it belongs, until the hook 19 engages said hole, thence the straight portion of the wire 18 is caused to hug the inner face 13 of the post on the side directly opposite from 13, and let out beyond the edge thereof, where it is turned toward and coiled around the adjacent horizontal wire 11 of the fence netting, away from the post. The fastening just described prevents the fence wire from sagging.

A like fastening is applied to every one of the other horizontal wires 11 of the netting for which no holes are provided in the parallel surface of the line posts, the application of the latter named fastening being illustrated in Fig. 1. In this case, the hook 19 is brought to bear against that vertical edge 13. of the line post which is remotev from the horizontal wire and the straight portion 18 again is led outward to the wire 11 and coiled therearound, also away from the post, in proximity to its angular portion. The last named fastening holds the fence wire against lateral movement.

Either kind of fastening previously described has its hook portion rather open at first for free manipulation. This hook is afterward closed or flattened against the leg of the angle iron.

It will be seen that, when anchored to the line posts by means of a double fastening in the manner above set forth, the netting is firmly secured against all ordinary strains,

"ing is much easier to perform than the twisting to which recourse was had in olden constructions, due to the availability of a special coiling tool now procurable, whereas the twisting must be done with pliers, the use whereof is greatly objectionable because of frequent slippage and consequent loss of time. Coiling also gives a certain freedom of action to the fencing and being away from the post it can never be the cause of snow, sleet or water gathering and being held up against the post. Moreover, the fastening wire is of such a small diameter, that the tangential contact between it and the post permits the application of paint in such av way as to cover the post with the wire and fastened thoroughly.

As Fig. 1 shows, the fastenings are preferably staggered up and down along the line posts, excepting at top and bottom where they are employed in pairs. The line posts having but one row of holes located at the neutral axis thereof, it is weakened in the least amount or degree practicable. The corner post 14 is furnished only with the fastening applied in the manner first above described, because at the fence corner both the outer faces of the angle iron are made parallel to the netting, each on its own side. Holes are provided in both legs on this account, and because the primary object is to prevent the horizontally disposed wires from sagging. On the other hand, the fastenings are so close to one another on the outer sides of the corner post that there is little or no liability of lateral displacement. A fastening however is provided for each horizontal wire of the netting, on both faces of the corner post. The latter may be made heavier than the line posts, if desired. As to the fastenings thereon, it is immaterial whether their coils be made from above or below the horizontal wires, both such coilings being shown in the drawing.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1s:

1. The hereindescribed improvement in wire fencing, including an angular post provided with a vertical row of holes in a face thereof set parallel to the adjacent fence wires, a fastening having a hook portion and a straight portion adapted for use in connection with each one of said holes, the former portion engaging the respective hole and the latter portion coiling around an adjoining fence wire away from said post, and a like fastening hooked over the remote edgeof the angular post in a plane transverse to the fence wires and similarly coiled around an adjoining fence wire.

2. A wire-fence including an angle iron post having one of its legs set parallel to the fence and the other one of said legs in a plane transverse to the same, said post having a vertical row of holes in its said parallel leg, one'hole for every other horizontal wire of the fence, fastenings composed each of a hook portion and a straight portion, the horizontal wires being anchored alternately one to a hole in said parallel leg of the post and one to its said transverse leg, the hook portion of one fastening engaging a hole, the hook portion of the next fastening engaging the remote edge of the transverse leg of the post, and the straight portions of the several fastenings being coiled around adjoining horizontal fence wires.

3. A wire-fence including an angle iron post having one leg set parallel to the fence and the other leg in a plane transverse thereto, a vertical row of holes provided in said parallel leg of the post for alternate horizontal fence wires, and fastenings having each a hook port-ion and a straight portion, the top and bottom horizontal fence wires being both anchored by the hook portions of said fastenings, one to a hole in said parallel leg of the post and one to the edge of the posts transverse leg, at both top and bottom, the straight portions of the fastenings being coiled in pairs around the same horizontal fence wires at top and bottom respectively, and the intermediate horizontal wires being similarly anchored by said fastenings but in alternate order only.

4:. In a wire-fence, the combination of an angle iron. post, a horizontal fence wire run ning parallel to and upon one leg thereof, a fastening having a hook portion and a straight portion disposed in the same horizontal plane, said hook portion engaging a hole in said leg of the post, and said straight portion being coiled away from the post around said fence wire in said plane.

5. In a wire-fence, the combination with an angle iron post and a horizontal wire running parallel to and upon one leg of the same, the other leg of said postbeing in a plane at right angles to said fence wire, of a fastening having a hook port-ion and a straight portion disposed in the same horizontal plane, said hook portion engaging the remote edge of said other leg of the post, and said straight portion being located on the outside of said last named leg and having its end portion coiled around the horizontal wire in said plane alongside and away from the post in proximity to its angular portion.

6. In a wire-fence, the combination of an angle iron post, a horizontal wire running parallel to and upon one leg thereof, and a pair of fastenings for said wire having each a hook portion and a straight portion, disposed in the one plane, the wire being anchored to the post by the hook portions of said fastenings, the hook portion of one fastening engaging a hole in one of the legs of the post, the hook portion of the other fastening engaging the remote edge of the other leg of the post, the straight portion of the latter named fastening being 10- cated on the outside of the post, and the straight portions of both fastenings being coiled around the wire away from the post in the same plane.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of July A. D. 1911.

JOHN HENRY DOl/VNS.

WVitnesses:

H. O. KARLSON, FRED A. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. 0. 

